Boutique Bars * Posh Pubs * Luxury Libations
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Contents
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Contents
Contents 3 -
4 -
5&6 -
Beer Mat Doodles
Pub Grub
Happy Hour
7&8 -
9 & 10 -
11 & 12 -
Six Degrees North
Illicit Still
Aitchie’s Ale House
13 & 14 -
15 -
16 -
Ninety-Nine Bar
Long Island Iced Tea
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Minted Man
Art
Beer Mat Doodles An artistic approach to the most vandalized part of the bar. Beer mats are probably the part of the bar most people take for granted. Nobody really gives any thought to them or puts any value on them. Their only real use for most people is to give them something for their hands to do. Stacking them, folding them or just ripping them up. Most of the time they end up destroyed and thrown out. Sometimes, however, the mats come back looking better than they did before. This rare occurence happened to barman Scott McNaughton, of the Queens Hotel and Bar in Forfar. When clearing one night after closing, Scott found a stack of around 15 beer mats with a series of internationally themed illustrations. “We have no idea who did them, but they aren’t too bad. Better than a big “T” anyway.” Scott says, and the bar will continue to use them all the same. “It’s kind of a novelty type of thing. People come in and see them, they’ll remember that. Or at least we hope so.” He also said that the bar would be happy to find out who the artist was, as they are more than willing to have more drawings Whatever the case, it’s clear that someone took a lot of time and effort in drawing these cartoonish figures and was either incredibly bored or very creative. -3-
Food Food and drink are a perfect coupling the world over. One can’t go without the other. It would be like Rum without coke, or G without T. Absurd. But food in a bar isn’t like it is in any other walk of life. You won’t find chocolate bars, or fruit, or anything much sweet at all for that matter. It seems everything has to be very salty. Of course quite normal and run of the mill foods like crisps, which are undoubtadly easily found in the normal world, can be found in a bar. But most pub grub isn’t quite so mundane.
Pub Grub
A look through some of the nation’s best loved drinking foods. Possibly the most iconic pub food, and the most instantly recognisable are pork scratchings.
almost every packet is eaten in a pub, they have the fat content equivelent to lard, and stink to high heaven, they deserve a mention all by themselves.
Rinds of fat from the outer edge of a lump of pig meet, roasted till hard and then cooled, salted and bagged.
Again these are about as appetising as they sound, being fish flavoured crisps and all. And of course their salt content is sky high.
As far as descriptions go, that isn’t one that would immediately be recognised as that of a popular delicasy.
Peanuts and other nuts seem to be the only even nearly healthy pub classic around.
It would be understandable if they were redeemed by an amazing mouthwatering flavour. They are not.
They provide the same savoury flavour every drinker craves, but aren’t quite as likely to plug up the arteries.
They taste exactly as they should, of fat and salt. Perhaps they are an acquired taste, or maybe you just don’t mind after a few too many.
Peanuts in particualar have a high protein content and are considered to be great for digestion and general health. But it goes almost without saying, the nuts are usually salted to within an inch of their lives.
Another seemingly baffling addition to the pub grub menu are Scampi Fries. Scampi Fries are a technically a type of crisp, but due to the fact that
Whether loved or loathed, the downright weird flavours of the pub are here for the long haul. -4-
Features
Happy Hour Four of the best bars and pubs in Aberdeen for a quiet drink and a good chat.
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Features
Aberdeen is renowned accross Britian for its wealth and high quality of life. However it could just as easily be known for its huge number of public houses. Its hard to walk more than five steps through the centre of Aberdeen without seeing a bar. But, as with anything, the quantity doesnt neccaserily reflect the quality. Some are old and falling apart,
and in dire need of renovation, or better - demolition. Some are classic “locals”, giving a warm reception to the same faces they see every night, but then icing over for strangers. Some are cheap, but harbour no other appeal. For every dive, however, there is always at least one watering hole that has that intangable and undescribable quality that ultimately gives it
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the rank of a “Good Pub”. There may be to many to list, but here are - in no particular order four of the best Aberdeen has to offer for those who just want a quiet drink, or a good old chin wag.
Features
6° North “The Belgian brewers of Scotland’s” original beer menu provides for the adventurous and the connoisseur alike.
6° North is a relative newcomer to the Aberdeen pub scene, having just set up its premises on Littlejohn Street in 2012. It is the first venue in a planned chain of bars operated by the Belgian brewery of the same name. The bar itself seems to be a mix of elements of both modern and oldfashioned design. It is very simplistic and plain, with very few details. But the few details that do exist seem reminiscant of a time gone by. Where the walls arent bare, there are shelves of elaborate, antique bottles. A huge chalkboard with a list of this
month’s beers hangs high on the wall. The most old-fasioned element seems to be the music. They play soft jazz and soul - most of it seems like it was composed in the 40’s and 50’s. Then there are the more modern elements, like the bar, especially the beer taps, which have large pipes curving the length of the bar, with small nozzles hangin down from where the beer is poured. Even though the different styles should clash, they don’t. Rather, they seem to exist in harmony together, giving a relaxing and easygoing kind of atmosphere.
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The beer list is the main draw though. It lists up to 30 beers at any one time, and is changed on a monthly basis. These beers are not the run of the mill store bought variety, however. They are specially brewed beers, many by 6° themselves, that have a higher emphasis on different flavours and tastes. Unfortunately they also have a higher emphasis on price. The average pour is a half pint, and the average price is around £3.
Features
Due to this, it may not be the best place to come if you want a wild night, but for a few drinks and a chat with old friends, it’s perfect. The bar does also hold every other drink a pub would be expected to, including some of the more popular beers, wine, and spirits. But you would be well advised to at least try one of the specialities. Even if you aren’t the biggest fan of beer, or are just unsure which to choose, the staff are on hand to help.
Just tell the bar staff what your preffered tastes are and they will let you try samples of beers based on this. And even when you don’t love the one you get, the novelty of choosing and trying different beers is all very fun. The staff aren’t just good when it comes to helping choose the right beer, they are also some of the friendliest. They are always very polite and chatty people, and are disarmingly happy.
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But the thing you notice most about them is that that the are only too willing to help you in any way they can. The quality and novelty of the beers stocked here make it an ideal pitstop for anyone, from fanatic beer drinkers, to those just fancying something a little unusual. With the warm atmosphere, the friendly staff and the overall quirky feel of the place, 6° North is just a very nice, comfortable environment to be in.
Features
At first glance, the Illicit Still looks quite unappealing. From the outside all that can be seen is a small tarmacced carpark, and a door under an awning. The words “The Illicit Still” are painted in big gold letters on a sign hanging from it. The entrance, in fact is the only feature which tells you that a pub actually exists here, as to either side there are shops with mannequins in the windows. There seems to be no room at all for a bar to exist, unless it was absurdly small. It isn’t until you go in and find a set of steps leading down, that you begin to understand it. When you first enter and go down some steps, underground, you wonder where you are going to end up. On the wall above the stairwell is a huge brass front of some kind of industrial revolution style tank. The still from which the bar takes its name. Down deeper still and you find two wooden doors inlaid with multicoloured stained glass windows.
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Beyond the doors lies the main pub area. Everything, from the gold and red patterned wallpaper to the black felt and dark brown hardwood of the pool table, has a rustic, almost antique look. This theme continues through to the bar area. The counter top is covered with a sheet of dimpled copper, with twisted wrought iron pillars holding up the glass rack above. The unusual details work, however, and complement the bar’s warm, inviting atmosphere. It’s comfortable place to be, not just due to the numerous cushioned seats, but because of the atmosphere. The music isn’t too loud or intrusive, used more for ambience rather than entertainment. The lack of music means the prevailing noises are more organic; the clinking of glasses, the chatter of people deep in conversation, the laughter of friends. All these factors come together to make the Still a homely, warm and welcoming place. Somewhere you can relax, either alone or with company.
Features
The Illicit Still Deep underground, just off Union Street, this rustic bar serves great local drink and even better food - a literal hidden gem. The look and feel alone make this bar a good one, but the Still’s beauty isn’t just skin deep. When it comes to the drinks menu, the bar is well equipped. It has all of the usual standard types and brands, but also stocks some more unusual products, holding at least five different brands of all the major spirits. It also stocks a number of different draught beers and ciders. All the usual suspects, with the addition of several local ales, such as BrewDog’s IPA. There is no doubt, however, about what the Still’s specialist drink is. The bar has a seperate menu re-
served entirely for whiskey, in its many shapes and forms. The whiskey menu lists over 25 different brands of whiskey from the six categories: Highland Malts, Islay Malts, Lowland Malts, Blends, Irish and American. Everything from the popular Glenfiddich and Jack Daniels, to the more obscure names like Laphroaig and Auchentoshan. Drinks may be the Still’s main focus, but the quality of the food is excellent, rivalling some restaurants. The menu has everything you would expect a pub to have, like burgers, sandwiches, and sharing
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foods. But it also lists some more fancy gourmet dishes, such as grilled T bone steak with chorizo mash & bloody mary sauce (pictured bottom left). There is however a penalty for the quality of the food, as all the dishes cost slightly more than for something similar in other bars. Overall this is a very warm, relaxing place to be, and the good food and drink make it ideal for any occasion. The Illicit Still is located at Netherkirkgate, Broad Street, opposite the Marischal College building.
Features
Aitchie’s Ale house A step inside is like a step back fifty years, Aitchie’s has all the character and warmth of the pubs of old. Looking at Aitchie’s from outside, it would be very easy to dismiss it as any run of the mill local, or “old man’s pub” as some may put it.
Aitchie’s biggest appeal is that it feels like you are going back to the golden era of public houses and the service industry as a whole.
It doesn’t advertise itself very much, with only a grey sign around the top to tell you that its there, the rest of the building is just like any other grey granite building in Aberdeen.
The staff are dressed in pressed white shirts, black trousers, and wear a classic barman’s apron around there waist, they look as proffesional barman should.
It isn’t until you enter that this apparent curse becomes a sort of blessing, as it doesn’t have as many “tourists” so retains a warmth from its local patronage.
They are all very polite and accomodating, and all very knowledgable about their trade. The staff also seem to get the balance of just how chatty a barman should be perfectly.
So in many ways people would be right to think of it as a ‘local’, but dismissing this as a bad thing would be missing the boat entirely.
They aren’t overly invasive and full on, but neither are the cold and detached. Speaking just enough to put you at ease, but not to the extent that they intrude.
It isn’t one of the local pubs who are unwelcoming and frosty to strangers. It is infact the opposite, the barman is always extremely polite and cheerful, and there is no animosity felt from any of the clientel.
They have a professional air about them that is rarely found with bar staff. That this isn’t just a stepping stone or filler job before moving on to other things, but a chosen career path, a trait not often found within the service industry.
But Aitchies is of course not just listed because of its welcoming staff and unintimidating customers, this is surely the least that should be expected from any bar.
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Features
The bar itself furthers the old-timey feel. The wood of the tables, and the bar counter have an aged look, that feels very authentic, unlike in many bars who falsify the age. Another old looking feature is the seating. Instead of chairs by the tables there are low wooden stools, which wouldn’t look out of place in Victorian times. Even the glassware has a antique feel. There is a different style of glass for every different drink. Not just beer, wine and whiskey glasses, but different of glasses for the like of rum and lemonade. As for the drinks themselves, there are various to choose from. They have every standard beverage, but not much else, so this isn’t maybe a place to come to experience a new flavour. The food served has a homemade quality, it tastes fresh and homely. -12-
There is nothing fanciful about the products served, but this is half the appeal of Aitchie’s. It’s different without trying to hard. Aitchie’s is a homely, old-timey pub - a blast from the past. It should be the first port of call for anyone who has a touch of nostalgia, or needs to get back to basics. Aitchie’s Ale House is located on Trinity Street, opposite Union Square shopping centre.
Features Even from the outside it’s clear to see that Ninety-Nine is the boutique of the bar world. From the black and white face of the woman on their sign, to the typography of their name across the window. When inside, the staff are wearing shirts, ties and suit wastecoats, and look very formal. It makes you feel that you should be no less well dressed than them, at least feeling under dressed in anything less than a shirt. But the urge to look your best, and wear more fancy attire is not forced on you. The setting makes you truly want to look good. Coming in wearing jeans and a tshirt just doesn’t seem right. Due to the formal air this bar is ideal a business or professional meet. You could easily walk in fully suited an booted and wouldn’t get a second look.
It is also well suited to this form of occasion because the bar is a particularly civilized and calm one. There is no place for the rowdy or the drunken here. As regards to drinks the bar is well equipped to satisfy any desire, with a large variety of beers, wines and spirits. Ninety-Nine also has an extensive menu listing multiple different cocktails, most of which follow the trend of the bar and are more upmarket and classy. The food menu lists various different dishes, all of a very high standard. The menu as well is very well suited to more formal occasions such as business lunches or dinners, but also caters to the average Joe, or families, with a kids menu.
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Features
Ninety-Nine Bar An upmarket, chic establishment. Wear your best.
Because of the upmarket style of Ninety-Nine, some may think that it is a little pretentious. This would be a misjudgement. Ninety-Nine isn’t trying to be precocious or snobby, just classy. It may not be the type of place to go for a quiet drink after work, or a messy night out, but it gives an outlet for people’s classy sides. Overall, this is a must for anyone who would like a change to the run of the mill, or to add a touch of class to a night out. It’s also recommended to professionals and businessmen. Ninety-Nine is located on Back Wynd, next to the cemetery.
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Recipes
Long Island Iced Tea It may be an old classic, but the punch it packs is still unrivalled to this day.
Ingredients White Rum - 20ml Gin - 20ml Silver Tequila - 20ml Vodka - 20ml Triple Sec (e.g. Cointreau)- 20ml Lemon Juice - 20ml Simple Syrup (Half sugar half water) - 20ml Cola (splash) Fill a glass with ice and add all the ingredients except the cola. Top with a splash of cola and stir briefly. Garnish with a lemon wedge. (Recipe by Olamide Bakare, Patisserie Valerie, Aberdeen, Bar Staff)
The Long Island Iced Tea (LIIT) has remained, since its inception, as one of, if not, the strongest cocktail in the business.
of spirits, mixing with the orange flavouring of the Triple Sec to give a fresh taste.
It’s usually made up of between 6080% spirits, but even from the first sip it is easy to forget just how much alcohol it contains.
This does however mean that it is extremely easy to over indulge, so proceeding with caution is wise when drinking this particular cocktail. One or two is probably enough.
The small quantities of lemon and coke somehow manage to disguise the taste of the much larger doses
Even by the name, the LIIT, sounds like a fairly summery drink, and in may ways it is. -15-
But it also works perfectly as a winter cocktail, as the rum, tequila and triple sec come together to give the drink a spicy, aromatic quality remeniscent of mulled wine, or a hot toddy. This is the holiday season drink that caters for those who want to be warmed without their drink being hot.
Recipes
Ingredients Vodka - 30ml Fresh Lime Juice - 30ml Simple Syrup (Half sugar half water) - 20ml 3 slices of cucumber 4 mint leaves In a shaker, mix the simple syrup, cucumber and mint. Add the vodka and lime juice, and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a mint sprig. (Recipe by Olamide Bakare, Patisserie Valerie, Aberdeen, Bar Staff)
The Minted Man A refreshing change most vodka coctails, the Minted Man is a fierce challenger to a classic Mojito. When the nights start getting shorter and the cold starts to bite, it’s easy to resign yourself to what seems like a life time of darkness and depressing weather.
The fresh green flavours of the mint, cucumber and lime, mixed with the kick of the vodka make this a refreshing, revitalising drink with a bite.
The best remedy to the winter blues is to remind yourself of the hot beautiful summer days of the past and look forward to the summers yet to come.
Sharing many of its key ingredients with a Mojito, it is no surprise that they have similar tastes. It does have its differences however.
One way to do this is to throw seasonal conventions out of the window, and make yourself something so fresh and flamboyant that you forget which season it is. The perfect drink for this is the Minted Man.
Where the mojito relies on the mint and lime to give the drink all of its flavour, the Minted Man makes use of all of its ingredients. The mint/lime combo have the same fresh almost menthol taste, but the addition of the cucmber smoothes and pacifies this, so it -16-
doesn’t over power quite so much as it tends to in a Mojito. Rum and tequila are flavours which are more easily infused or disguised in a Mojito by the other flavours, the vodka is not so easily ignored. It gives the Minted Man more teeth, contrasting well with the other silkier flavours. This is a smooth, fresh beast with a hidden kick, perfect for those who need a boot back to the summer way of thinking.
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